This year\u2019s Premier League season is destined to be one that football fans will remember. There\u2019s been a distinct lack of top quality teams in the past few campaigns, but with new managers, players and an injection of innovative ideas, there are a number of clubs you could quite easily say will win the Premier League. Chelsea are\u00a0dark horses.<\/p>\n
The focus throughout the opening few weeks – and especially this weekend – has been primarily on the two clubs in Manchester. Jos\u00e9 Mourinho and Pep Guardiola are two globally successful managers and there\u2019s talk wherever they go. Not only that, but look at who they\u2019ve both recruited: Zlatan Ibrahimovi\u0107, Paul Pogba, Leroy San\u00e9, Ilkay G\u00fcndogan etc. High profile names.<\/p>\n
Though, down in London, Antonio Conte and his Chelsea team are just warming up. Their opening few games have been shaky and on edge, but it\u2019s evident to see that they have the winning mentality from the Italian instilled in them already.<\/p>\n
The Blues haven\u2019t spent a great deal this summer – a surprise was bringing in David Luiz from Paris Saint-Germain two years on after selling him, but other than the Brazilian, they\u2019ve recruited smartly and only for players they needed. There was no statement laid down from Chelsea.<\/p>\n
Conte now has the privilege of managing away from the spotlight; he\u2019s in the shadows, ready to eventually make his move and strike. There\u2019s been remote talk of Chelsea possibly winning the title, but it\u2019s muted by the two overwhelming clubs in the North West.<\/p>\n
If you ask any manager or any player, they\u2019ll say they\u2019re at their best when there\u2019s no intense scrutiny and pressure placed on them. None of this \u2018favourites\u2019 talk – just take a look at how England fared this summer in France.<\/p>\n
Chelsea aren\u2019t the favourites. They\u2019re not even the second favourites. They\u2019re third or fourth, and this plays perfectly into Conte\u2019s hands. Like Claudio Ranieri of Leicester City, the Blues boss can manage in a relaxed (as relaxed as that environment can be) setting.<\/p>\n
Some teams thrive – though, rarely – and some teams crumble like an apple pie when the temperature rises. Spurs reaped the benefits of being the outsiders when attempting to hunt down Leicester in last year\u2019s title challenge, but then look at how they lost their tempers against Chelsea when the pressure was on. Small margins when knowing you\u2019ve got to win at a certain time can make the best of teams self-implode.<\/p>\n
Chelsea have been through the ringer in the last season – underperformance and underinvestment occurred and for a club of their standard, it wasn\u2019t good enough and complacency had set firmly in.<\/p>\n
Conte isn\u2019t a manager to rest on his laurels and settle for second best, when he wants something he\u2019ll go out and do the very best to achieve the end goal. Chelsea will always be in the shadows, and they\u2019ll always be waiting, but when the time comes, expect them to pounce and not let go.<\/p>\n
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